Carbon Action was put together by Baltic Sea Action Group and launched with funding from the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra in 2017. Currently, Carbon Action collaboration encompasses 40+ ongoing or completed projects funded from government, EU and private sources. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) oversees research collaboration, while BSAG is responsible for the programme and cooperation with companies and farmers. The collaboration aims for multiple benefits: better soil health, increased biodiversity and resilience, climate change mitigation, and reduced discharges into the Baltic Sea and other bodies of water. Carbon Action has been supported by the Finnish government Catch the Carbon programme which is part of Finland’s commitment to the International 4 pour 1000 Initiative.
The Carbon Action collaboration develops practical regenerative farming methods while studying carbon sequestration in arable land. Within the collaboration, a 5-year soil study with ~100 pilot farmers was carried out. The preliminary results show that regenerative farming improves both soil health and crop security and has many environmental and climate benefits. They also show that soil structure and good drainage conditions are prerequisites for operationalizing regenerative agriculture and realization of its full potential. In Carbon Action, the FMI-lead work to develop soil carbon sequestration verification system has produced a globally scalable MRV system adapted for different uses and incorporating even a soil carbon sequestration forecast. The third pillar of Carbon Action is close cooperation with food industry and food system companies and other key actors to advance training, education and tools to help adoption of carbon farming practises and transition to regenerative agriculture. A full e-course for farmers and an executive crash course on regenerative agriculture are among the practical tools developed on Carbon Action.